Liverpool launches nine Halo Points for instant night-time safety
Immediate help available across Liverpool city centre
Merseyside Police and Liverpool City Council have officially activated nine “Halo Points” across the city’s busiest nightlife districts as of Wednesday, May 6. These high-visibility safe havens are designed to provide immediate support for anyone feeling vulnerable, at risk, or in distress during a night out. Located in key areas such as Concert Square and Mathew Street, the points offer a direct lifeline to emergency services and constant CCTV monitoring.
Each Halo Point is well-lit and easily identifiable, serving as both a practical resource for those in need and a visible deterrent to potential offenders. By pressing for assistance, users are connected directly to 999 services while City Watch CCTV operators provide immediate visual reassurance and coordinate rapid intervention from police officers or specialist VAWG champions.
Strategic locations for night-time security
The placement of these points follows a comprehensive Strategic Threat Risk Assessment conducted in 2023. This data-driven approach identified high-footfall areas where incidents of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) were most likely to occur. To help residents and visitors navigate the city safely, the following locations are now live and can be found using the What3Words navigation system:
| Area | Street Location | What3Words Address |
|---|---|---|
| Concert Square | Wood St / Hanover St | Sweat.Brings.Shells |
| Concert Square | Slater St / Wood St | Inspector.Proud.Meant |
| Concert Square | St. Peter’s Square | Forget.Friday.Storm |
| Concert Square | Seel St (near Alcatraz) | Precautions.Actual.Spent |
| Concert Square | Slater St / Seel St | Logic.Grass.Vivid |
| Mathew Street | Mathew St / Stanley St | Flats.Hosts.Corn |
| Mathew Street | North John St / Mathew St | Stove.Spit.Oval |
| Mathew Street | Stanley St / Dale St | Glove.Vivid.Ranges |
| Mathew Street | Temple Court / Victoria St | Comic.Solar.Fixed |
Integration with Operation Halo and VAWG Champions
The launch of these physical safe spaces marks the next phase of Operation Halo, a multi-agency initiative funded by the Home Office’s Hyper-Local Policing Fund. This project is a collaborative effort between Merseyside Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell, and Liverpool City Council’s Highways and City Watch teams.
The Halo Points work in tandem with the existing network of VAWG Champions. These are trained staff members embedded within licensed venues across the city who are taught to recognise signs of vulnerability, challenge harmful behaviour, and respond effectively to reports of spiking or harassment. While the champions provide safety within venues, the Halo Points ensure that the same level of protection extends to the streets and public squares.
Constable Frank Stevens, the Merseyside Police officer who developed the concept, noted that the points are a significant step in building a stronger culture of safety. The initiative relies heavily on the partnership with the Council’s Highways team, who ensured the points were placed in accessible, high-visibility spots that do not obstruct the flow of the city’s busy night-time traffic.
Maintaining Liverpool’s Purple Flag status
Liverpool currently holds Purple Flag status, an international accreditation that recognises cities providing a diverse, safe, and well-managed night-time economy. The introduction of Halo Points is intended to reinforce this reputation and address specific concerns regarding the safety of women and girls in urban environments.
Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell emphasized that the project is about practical prevention and rapid support. By combining physical infrastructure with trained personnel and advanced CCTV coverage, the city aims to make it clear that harmful behaviour will not be tolerated. For those visiting the city centre, the presence of these points offers a guaranteed point of contact where someone will always be available to help, regardless of the time or the nature of the concern.
Moving forward, the impact of these points will be monitored as part of the city’s ongoing commitment to ending violence against women and girls. Residents are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the locations and use them whenever they feel their safety is compromised.
Source: Liverpool City Council
